System and method for anonymous processing of financial transactions

Abstract

A method for anonymous processing of a purchasing request. Initially, a text message comprising the purchasing request is received, by a processing platform, from a mobile phone. A current authorization code comprising a random number is generated in response, and then sent, via a text message, to the mobile phone. A merchant is provided with a pending authorization code, who then sends a communication including the pending authorization code to the platform. The purchasing request is validated in part by determining whether the pending authorization code is identical to the current authorization code.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for anonymous processing of a purchasing request comprising:
 receiving, from a mobile phone, a first text message comprising the purchasing request; 
 generating a current authorization code comprising a random number; 
 sending the current authorization code, via a second text message, to the mobile phone; 
 receiving, from a merchant, a communication including a pending authorization code; 
 validating the purchasing request by determining that the pending authorization code is identical to the current authorization code. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current authorization code is valid only for a specific single said purchasing request. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of the mobile phone is compared against a previously-stored number to verify that the party making the purchasing request is authorized to make the request. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of receiving, generating, and validating are performed by a platform remote from a merchant facility from which the communication originated. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 receiving, via a text message sent from the mobile phone, a PIN corresponding to a specific client; 
 determining whether a purchasing party sending the current authorization code is registered as said client by comparing both the PIN and the number of the mobile phone with previously stored information linking the PIN and the number to the client; 
 wherein the purchasing request is validated in part if it is determined that the purchasing party is registered as said client. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication from the merchant is sent via a POS device at a merchant facility. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purchasing request includes no re-usable information that allows a subsequent purchasing request to be validated based thereon. 
     
     
       8. A method for anonymous processing of a purchasing transaction comprising:
 receiving, from a mobile phone of a purchasing party, a first text message comprising a purchasing request and a PIN; 
 sending a current authorization code comprising a random number, via a second text message, to the mobile phone of the purchasing party, if the received PIN corresponds to the number of the mobile phone from which the purchasing request was received; 
 wherein a merchant is provided with purchase data comprising a pending authorization code; 
 receiving, from the merchant, a merchant communication including a data string comprising the purchase data; and 
 validating the purchasing request in part by determining that the pending authorization code received in the data string is identical to the current authorization code; 
 wherein the data string includes no information that enables the merchant to determine the identity of the purchasing party. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the purchase data includes no re-usable information that allows a subsequent purchasing request to be validated based thereon. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the current authorization code is valid only for a specific single said purchasing request. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the steps of receiving, sending, and validating are performed by a platform remote from a merchant facility from which the merchant communication originated. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the merchant communication is sent via a POS device at a merchant facility. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the merchant communication is sent from a merchant website. 
     
     
       14. A method for anonymous processing of a purchasing transaction comprising:
 receiving, from a mobile phone of a purchasing party, a first text message comprising a purchasing request; 
 generating a pre-authorization code; 
 sending the pre-authorization code, via a second text message, to the mobile phone of the purchasing party; 
 receiving, a third text message including the pre-authorization code and a PIN; 
 validating the third text message by determining that:
 the pre-authorization code received in the data string is identical to the current authorization code; and 
 the PIN received in the data string corresponds to the number of the mobile phone from which the purchasing request was received; 
 
 generating a current authorization code comprising a random number; 
 sending the current authorization code, via a fourth text message, to the mobile phone of the purchasing party; 
 wherein a merchant is provided with purchase data comprising a pending authorization code and a PIN that corresponds to the purchasing party; 
 receiving, from the merchant, a communication including a data string comprising the purchase data; and 
 validating the purchasing request in part by determining that the pending authorization code received in the data string is identical to the current authorization code. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further including:
 verifying that the calling phone number of the phone from which the first text message was received matches a previously stored number; and 
 if no match is found, then denying the purchasing request. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the purchase data includes no re-usable information that allows a subsequent purchasing request to be validated based thereon. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the current authorization code is valid only for a specific single said purchasing request. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the steps of receiving, generating, sending, and validating are performed by a platform remote from a merchant facility from which the merchant communication originated. 
     
     
       19. A method for anonymous processing of an on-line purchasing transaction comprising:
 receiving, from a mobile phone of a purchasing party, a first text message comprising a purchasing authorization request; 
 generating a pre-authorization code; 
 sending the pre-authorization code, via a second text message, to the mobile phone of the purchasing party; 
 receiving a third text message including the pre-authorization code and a PIN; 
 validating the third text message by determining that:
 the pre-authorization code received in the data string is identical to the current authorization code; and 
 the PIN received in the data string corresponds to the number of the mobile phone from which the purchasing authorization request was received; 
 
 if the third text message is validated, then: 
 generating a current authorization code comprising a random number; 
 sending the current authorization code, via a fourth text message, to the mobile phone of the purchasing party; 
 wherein an Internet transmission, comprising a purchasing request including a pending authorization code, is received, from the purchasing party, by a shopping cart application on a merchant website; 
 receiving, from the merchant website, an Internet communication from the merchant website including a data string comprising the authorization code; and 
 validating the purchasing request in part by determining that the pending authorization code received in the data string is identical to the current authorization code. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the current authorization code is valid only for a specific single said purchasing request. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the steps of receiving, generating, sending, and validating are performed by a platform separate from the merchant website.